Being green is good for the bottom line. #SFSBW2015 Interview with SF Green Business Program

#SFSBW2015 asked our sponsors to share insights, best practices, and examples of how they help small business owners flourish. Today we hear from Keith Dews, Green Business Aide, San Francisco Green Business Program.

What is your organization’s mission?

Our mission is to help San Francisco businesses adopt environmental practices that are sustainable as well as profitable. We achieve our mission by setting high environmental criteria, providing technical assistance, and publicly recognizing and promoting Green Businesses.

Today’s hyper-competitive marketplace is presenting new challenges and opportunities to many businesses. Has your organization changed its approach to doing business to address the changing market?

The opportunity to conduct business in an environmentally friendly way is front and center in today’s changing marketplace. Businesses choose to be green to address customer expectations, save money, and do business according to their own values. The San Francisco Green Business Program assists businesses to operate in a green and sustainable fashion to be successful against the triple bottom line.

What is your organization doing to help small businesses compete in today’s market?

The San Francisco Green Business Program serves a comprehensive environmental services package for businesses, providing access to a host of free city services and resources available to businesses including rebates, toolkits, videos, assessments and public recognition.

What are the trends you see when you think about the small business marketplace, and how will these trends shape the future of small business?

Small businesses today are more aware of the environmental impact of their business practices and customer expectations for green and sustainable business. Reducing utilities, increasing employee wellness, creating a marketing edge, and receiving recognition while being part of a large community of environmental leaders is the trend of the future because being a green business and addressing the triple bottom line is advantageous.

Can you share one brief story about how the SF Green Business Program is helping San Francisco businesses thrive?

The San Francisco Green Business Program helps businesses find value in sustainability in many ways. One recognized Green Business art gallery received a free energy assessment and switched out their old lamps to more energy efficient versions. Their fears were abated as their art was displayed even better than before while also saving them in reduced utility bills.